TEACHER RESOURCE – THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES
Colonial Western Australian History – Study of the Swan River Colony 1827 to 1890s
Historical Milestones - 1492 to 1903
Year
Eastern Colonies
Western Australia
1492
Christopher Columbus crosses the Atlantic Ocean and
reaches the Americas. Although evidence of pre-Columbian
trans-Atlantic Ocean European contact, Columbus is
commonly credited as the first European to see the Americas
because of the profound impact his contact had on history.
Vasco De Gama, Portuguese discoverer of a sea route to
India, arrives at Calicut India opening the way for European
ships to enter the Indian Ocean.
1498
1606
Captain William Janz of the ship Duyfken makes
first documented European landing in Australia on
west coast of what we now know as Queensland.
1607
The Jamestown Settlement Colony (named for King James
I of England and VI of Scotland) is the first successful English
settlement on the mainland of North America.
1611
Dutch Captain Hendrick Brouwer pioneers the route across the southern
Indian Ocean. This new route brings Dutch sailors in contact with the
western coast of the Great South Land (Australia) for the first time.
Dirk Hartog in the ship Eendracht, makes first confirmed landing of a
European on Western Australian soil at Cape Inscription. He leaves a
pewter plate and names the coastal region in the vicinity Eendrachtsland.
1616
1620
1642
1644
The ship Mayflower sets sail from England to establish a
European colony in New England (North America).
Abel Tasman is first European to map part of Van
Diemen‟s Land (Tasmania).
Abel Tasman christens the continent we now know
as Australia „New Holland‟. The name remains in
use for 180 years although after Cook names the
east coast New South Wales in 1770 the name
more often refers to Western Australia only.
1696
1697
1764
1770
Britain and the World
Dutchman Willem de Vlamingh explores and names the Swan River.
Willem de Vlamingh finds Hartog‟s plate and replaces it with his own.
The invention of the Spinning Jenny by Englishman James
Hargraves speeds up the spinning process. Inventions such
as this lead to the Industrial Revolution.
Lieutenant James Cook, in command of HM
Bark Endeavour, lands in Botany Bay (New
South Wales)
1773
American colonists dressed as Indians, stage the Boston Tea
Party to highlight their demand for no taxation without
representation. They dump chests of tea from British ships
into Boston Harbour. The incident helps spark the American
Revolution. It also leads to Britain searching for new colonies
for raw materials, new markets and to send convicts.
© National Trust of Australia (WA) 2011
Page 1 of 6
TEACHER RESOURCE – THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES
Colonial Western Australian History – Study of the Swan River Colony 1827 to 1890s
Year
Eastern Colonies
Western Australia
1775
The American Revolutionary War begins with the battles of
Lexington and Concord.
The American Declaration of Independence is adopted in
Philadelphia.
1776
1788
Captain Arthur Phillip arrives at Botany Bay aboard
HMS Supply to establish the first European
settlement in New South Wales. It is a convict
settlement, marking the beginnings of convict
transportation to Australia.
1789
1791
French Revolution begins.
George Vancouver names King George Sound (Albany) and claims the
region for Britain.
Frenchman Bruni d‟Entrecasteaux in charge of Researche and L’Esperance
reaches Cape Leeuwin, the south west corner of WA, and explores eastward
along the southern coast.
1792
1793
1794
Britain begins war with France.
The British Navy under Lord Howe defeats the French Fleet.
The day is celebrated in the Royal Navy as The Glorious First
of June.
The spice trading company VOC (United Dutch East India
Company) is declared bankrupt and dissolved.
1799
1801
1803
1805
1809
1810
1812
1815
1817
1818
Britain and the World
1801 - 1803 Matthew Flinders charts the coastline
of the continent we now know as Australia. He
puts forward the name Australia for the continent
then referred to as New South Wales (eastern)
and New Holland (western).
French explorer Baudin explores Australian coast.
Van Dieman‟s Land (now Tasmania) settled.
French ships Geographe and Naturaliste under Nicholas Baudin and
Emmanuel Hamelin explore much of the coast north from Cape Leeuwin,
including the Swan River region.
Napoleonic Wars begin.
A British Royal Navy fleet commanded by Admiral Horatio
Nelson defeats the French at Trafalgar.
The officers of the New South Wales
Corps arrest Governor William Bligh in
the Rum Rebellion.
Lachlan Macquarie becomes Governor of NSW
(1810-1825)
The US Congress declared war on Britain.
Battle of Waterloo ends Napoleonic Wars.
Australian-born Phillip Parker King begins the
first of 4 voyages to survey parts of the
Australian coast not already examined by
Matthew Flinders. King has been described as
“the greatest of the early Australian Marine
surveyors”.
January 26, the first official celebrations marking
the 30th anniversary of European settlement.
Government workers given a holiday - a
tradition soon followed by banks and other
public offices.
© National Trust of Australia (WA) 2011
Phillip Parker King and Mermaid sail into King George Sound on his way to
survey North West coast. One of the crew is John Septimus Roe who would
later become the first Surveyor General of Western Australia.
Frenchman Louis de Freycinet takes de Vlamingh plate back to France. After
being lost for more than a century it is re-discovered in 1940 in Paris and is
now on display in Shipwrecks Galleries in Fremantle.
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TEACHER RESOURCE – THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES
Colonial Western Australian History – Study of the Swan River Colony 1827 to 1890s
Year
Eastern Colonies
1820
Sir Joseph Banks, naturalist, dies. Banks sailed
with Cook on HM Bark Endeavour and was the
champion of Botany Bay as a convict colony.
Ralph Darling is Governor of NSW (1825-1831).
The name Australia is officially adopted replacing
New Holland.
1825
1826
Western Australia
George IV becomes King of Great Britain and Ireland.
Major Edmund Lockyer arrives at King George Sound (Albany) on
Christmas day, aboard brig Amity to establish outpost of New South Wales.
Captain James Stirling sails from Sydney on board HMS Success to explore
Swan River area with a view to establishing a permanent settlement on the
Western Coast of Australia.
Old Farm, Strawberry Hill established in Albany. The property (now much
smaller) is owned by the National Trust. The house on site was built in 1836.
HMS Challenger under the command of Captain Charles Fremantle sails
from England to the Swan River to take possession of the west coast of
New Holland.
Captain James Stirling appointed Lieutenant Governor.
John Septimus Roe appointed Surveyor General.
Near the mouth of the Swan River Captain Charles Fremantle hoists the
Union Jack and formally annexes for the British Crown "…all that part of New
Holland which is not included in the territory of New South Wales". (May 2)
Henry W Reveley appointed acting Civil Engineer to design and construct all
public works. He designs the Round House the colony‟s first public building
and prison.
Captain James Stirling and the Parmelia arrive in Cockburn Sound (June 2)
Captain Frederick Irwin reads the official proclamation that appoints Captain
James Stirling Lieutenant Governor (June 17).
The colony of Western Australia proclaimed on Garden Island (June 18).
James Stirling takes up land between the Swan and Helena Rivers which he
calls Woodbridge. The National Trust now owns the house of the same
name which is situated on part of Stirling‟s original grant.
The Marquis of Anglesea wrecked on Bathers Beach, Fremantle. Later
converted into the Governor‟s Fremantle office, the Harbour Master‟s office,
the Post Office, a prison and a colonial store. Anglesea Point and Point
Marquis at each end of Bathers Beach were named after the ship.
Lionel Samson arrives in Fremantle on board Calista and establishes what
is currently the oldest family business in Australia. The National Trust now
owns Samson House built by his son Michael in the 1890s
Land set aside for a burial ground on what is now known as East Perth
Cemeteries. It is closed in 1899.
1827
1828
1829
1830
Brig Tranby arrives in Fremantle bringing Joseph Hardey and family to the
Swan River settlement. He begins building the first house at Peninsula Farm,
on the Swan River.
The towns of Williams and Kojonup are established on the main road to King
George Sound.
© National Trust of Australia (WA) 2011
Britain and the World
Success of Stephenson‟s steam engine “Rocket” begins the
railway age in Britain.
William IV becomes King of Great Britain and Ireland.
Page 3 of 6
TEACHER RESOURCE – THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES
Colonial Western Australian History – Study of the Swan River Colony 1827 to 1890s
Year
Eastern Colonies
1831
First issue of Perth Gazette is printed. This is the forerunner to the current
West Australian newspaper.
A wattle and daub, thatched roof cottage built at Old Farm Strawberry Hill. It
is destroyed by fire in 1870.
The colony‟s first gaol, The Round House, completed in February.
The name Albany formally adopted for the outpost of New South Wales at
King George Sound established in December 1826.
First plan of Fremantle issued by John Septimus Roe.
The Pinjarra Massacre, also known as the Battle of Pinjarra, occurs south of
Perth. Depending on the source the death toll ranged from 10 to 150.
1833
1834
1835
1836
Port Phillip Bay (later called Melbourne) settled.
Colony of South Australia begins.
1837
1838
British parliament votes to end slavery in the British colonies.
Victoria becomes Queen of Great Britain and Ireland (She
reigned from 1837 to 1901).
John Hutt becomes Governor.
Aboriginal prison established on Rottnest.
Joseph Hardey completes new house at Peninsula Farm. The house, now
known as Tranby, still stands and is owned by the National Trust.
Transportation of convicts to NSW ends.
German migrants came to the Barossa Valley in
South Australia 1840s onwards.
1841
1842
1843
A two-storey granite extension is built on Old Farm Strawberry Hill (Albany).
The building still stands today and is owned by the National Trust.
HMS Beagle calls into King George Sound on the final stages of the round
the world voyage 1831-1836. Charles Darwin‟s voyage in the Beagle leads
to the publication of On the Origin of the Species.
Bank of Western Australia begins.
Fremantle Whaling Company and Perth Whaling Company (based at
Carnac Island) formed. In pursuit of their first whale Perth wound the whale
and Fremantle capture it. The whale is shared as it is the first one caught
by the newly formed companies.
Britain and the World
Massacre of Aboriginal people at Myall Creek in
NSW.
1839
1840
Western Australia
Mechanical harvesting of wheat invented by John
Ridley in South Australia.
1844
New Zealand became a British colony.
Explorer Edward John Eyre arrives in Albany after walking across the
Nullarbor Plain from the Eastern States.
Parkhurst boys (prisoners from Parkhurst Prison, UK) arrive in to WA.
Causeway Bridge constructed across the Swan River.
15 year-old John Gavin (a Parkhurst boy) is the first European legally
hanged in the Swan River colony.
New Norcia mission begins.
1845
1846
1847
1848
Andrew Clarke becomes Governor.
General Board of Education opened two government schools.
Charles Fitzgerald becomes Governor.
Perth's first secondary school, the Bishop's School, opened. The school
started by Bishop Hale is now known as Hale School.
The first 75 convicts arrived on the Scindian with 54 guards and a number of
officials and their families. The start of convict era brings a huge boost to
labour and public works
1850
© National Trust of Australia (WA) 2011
Potato Famine in Ireland. Many Irish emigrate to America and
Australia.
Greenwich Mean Time introduced.
Economic down turn in England.
Page 4 of 6
TEACHER RESOURCE – THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES
Colonial Western Australian History – Study of the Swan River Colony 1827 to 1890s
Year
Eastern Colonies
1851
1853
Gold discovered in Victoria.
The last convict ship to Eastern colonies arrives in
Van Diemen‟s Land (Tasmania)
1854
Goldminers rebellion Eureka, Ballarat Victoria.
Australia‟s first steam railway used in Melbourne.
1855
1856
1858
1859
1861
1862
1863
Western Australia
Isaac Singer invents the sewing machine.
The Pyrenees arrives in Fremantle carrying 293 convicts including Joseph
Bolitho Johns, known as Moondyne Joe, WA‟s only known bushranger.
Moondyne Joe is buried in a pauper‟s grave in the Fremantle Cemetery.
Crimean War (1854-56). Florence Nightingale improves
nursing techniques.
Arthur Kennedy becomes Governor.
Van Diemen‟s Land renamed Tasmania.
Self Government in South Australia.
Australian Rules football begins in Victoria.
Non Aboriginal population of Australia reaches one
million
9+Northern New South Wales proclaimed a
separate colony with the name Queensland.
Eastern colonies linked by telegraph.
Britain takes control of India.
Growing demands for Irish Home Rule increases anti-British
feelings.
Construction of the Suez Canal begins.
Charles Darwin, British naturalist, publishes ‘On the Origin of
Species’, which explained his theory of evolution.
American Civil War (1861-65).
John Hampton becomes Governor.
South Australia annexes the Northern Territory.
The Red Cross founded by Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant
after he witnesses the battle of Solferina in Northern Italy.
1864
1865
1867
Government House completed.
1869
The last convict ship Hougoumont arrives in Fremantle with 229 convicts
including political prisoner John Boyle O‟Reilly and 61 other Irish political
prisoners, known as the Fenians.
The first heliograph signals flashed to Rottnest Island. A heliograph uses
reflected sunlight to send messages by morse code.
The first telegraph line in the colony, between Perth and Fremantle.
Frederick Weld becomes Governor.
1870 Perth Town Hall completed.
The original 1831 wattle and daub and thatched roof house on Old Farm
Strawberry Hill Albany, burns down.
1870
1871
1872
Britain and the World
The American Civil War ends and slavery abolished.
Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel takes out the patent for
„extradynamit‟ (dynamite).
British troops withdrawn from Australia.
Marcus Clarke‟s book For the Term of his Natural
Life about the horrors of the convict system in
Tasmania published.
The Australian Natives‟ Association (ANA)
established in Melbourne. Memberships open to
Australian-born males only.
An Australian telegraph line opened to connect
Adelaide with Port Darwin and soon extended to
link Australia with Java, India and Europe.
1874
The Suez Canal opened in Egypt, greatly shortening the
distance by sea between Europe and Australia.
Telegraph opened between Perth and Geraldton via Newcastle (now
Toodyay).
William Robinson becomes Governor.
Catalpa, an American whaling ship, sails from New Bedford USA to begin
the mission to rescue Fenian prisoners (Irish political prisoners) from the
Convict Establishment, Fremantle (Fremantle Prison).
1875
© National Trust of Australia (WA) 2011
Page 5 of 6
TEACHER RESOURCE – THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES
Colonial Western Australian History – Study of the Swan River Colony 1827 to 1890s
Year
Eastern Colonies
Western Australia
Shearers‟ Union formed
Six Fenian prisoners escape from Fremantle to Rockingham and taken by
whaleboat to join the Catalpa. This is the only successful escape from
Fremantle Prison.
Grace Bussell and Sam Isaacs rescue survivors of the SS Georgette, which
is wrecked on the south coast near Cape Naturalist.
Overland telegraph line links Perth to eastern colonies
Harry Ord becomes Governor
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1883
The bushranger Ned Kelly hanged in Melbourne.
1885
1887
1888
1890
1892
1893
1894
1895
Economic depression in Eastern Colonies. Worst
year of the depression
SA first state to introduce votes for women.
Banjo Patterson‟s Waltzing Matilda sung in public
for the first time in the North Gregory Hotel in
Winton, Queensland.
William Robinson becomes Governor (second term).
Perth to Fremantle railway opened.
Frederick Broome becomes Governor.
Charles Harper purchases Woodbridge farm (now owned by National Trust).
Gold discovered at Halls Creek. Kimberley gold rush begins.
Woodbridge House built by Charles Harper on his newly acquired farm is
completed. The National Trust now owns the property.
The first telephone branch opens in Fremantle.
Electricity first used in WA.
Michael Samson begins building Samson House. It is now owned by the
National Trust.
Self government proclaimed in WA.
Railway opened between Perth and Albany.
William Robinson becomes Governor (third term).
Gold discovered at Coolgardie.
Work begins on Fremantle Inner Harbour.
Gold discovered at Kalgoorlie.
Financial downturn in Britain.
1896
Kings Park is officially opened.
Gerard Smith becomes Governor.
Western Australia is standardised to be eight hours ahead of Greenwich
Mean Time.
Political Labour Party founded by Trades and Labour Council
1897
1899
Fremantle Harbour opens May 4. The steamer Sultan is the first vessel.
East Perth Cemeteries closed and replaced by Karrakatta Cemetery
1900
The Time Ball begins to operate on Arthur Head, Fremantle. It is dropped at
1 p.m. and used by masters of vessels to rate (check) their chronometers
and by the residents of Fremantle for maintaining correct time. Later a gun
also fired at 1 p.m. providing an audible signal.
WA becomes part of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Arthur Lawley becomes Governor.
CY O‟Connor chief engineer commits suicide in Fremantle.
Pipeline from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie is opened.
Frederick Bedford becomes Governor.
1901
Federation
1902
1903
The first Federal Election in Australia.
Australian women vote in a Federal Election for
the first time.
© National Trust of Australia (WA) 2011
Britain and the World
Thomas Edison invents the phonograph.
Thomas Edison invents the electric light bulb.
First commercial use of electric lighting in USA.
Louis Pasteur develops immunisation against anthrax.
Krakatoa volcanic explosion in Indonesia is heard in the north
of Australia.
Karl Benz invented the first automobile. Benz Patent Motor
wagon (1885 - 1888)
Eiffel Tower completed in Paris.
The modern Olympics begin in Athens, Greece.
The inventor of dynamite, Alfred Nobel, dies. In his will he
leaves money for Nobel Prizes in 6 categories.
South African War (Boer War1 1899 -1902).
Charles Duel, director of the US Patents Office quoted as
saying ”Everything that can be invented has been invented.”
Queen Victoria dies, after a reign of 64 years.
Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first controlled flight in a
heavier-than-air machine at Kittyhawk USA.
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